How about explaining it to them and then get them (in groups) to come up with an idea to make it exciting? Successful ideas can be tried by the whole class and then evaluated for their historical accuracy and how much they support the teaching.

Ian Dawson's website has a great active learning exercise on www.thinking****ory.co.uk - your classroom is mapped out as europe, you have the smallest kid in your class representing belgium etc. my pupils loved it!

The original plan involved going through Holland. Because this was shelved, the Germans had to attack the forts at Liege to get through.
That was a nice little battle which the kids might like to re-enact.

I have spent 16 years teaching History in a girl's seondary modern, and my point was a fair one.Perhaps able girls find that approach fascinating. It is also fair to say that the lesson ideas given here as interesting, would bore me and my pupils to tears.

Just an add on as far as British and British Empire forces are concerned but how many people know that the first British Soldiers to come into contact with the German forces advancing as part of the Schlieffen Plan, this was in August 1914 and the Canadian troops advancing on the last day of the war on the 11th, November 1918 were down the same road outside Mons. Plaques some 50 yard apart show where the first and the last shots were fired. Also that the first and the last British abnd British Empire (Brititish Army Lancers and Canadian Army Infantry)casualties of WW1 are buried just across the same path in St. Symphorien war cemetery (originally a Potash mine) near Mons.
Hope some of this is of interest to you.
rb211